The One New Thing Rule - What My Sunday Farmers Market Ritual Has Taught Me About Wellbeing
July 22, 2026 Written by Kristin Markey
I feel incredibly lucky that Denver’s Old South Pearl Street Farmers Market is less than one block from my house.
When I’m home, you’ll find me there almost every Sunday morning. I usually arrive with a loose list: fresh vegetables, seasonal fruit, a gluten-free treat, and my empty kombucha bottle to refill for the week. I may also pick up flowers when I need a little pick-me-up because sometimes a beautiful bunch of flowers really can change the energy of a room.
A few years ago, I wrote about farmers markets and CSAs through the lens of eating locally and supporting a more sustainable food system. I still believe deeply in all of that.
But after years of walking to my neighborhood market each Sunday, I’ve realized it gives me something else, too.
It keeps me curious.
The Weekly Favorites
Every week, I make a stop at The Hungry Tree Hugger, a gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free bakery. Their focaccia is divine, and John has developed his own Sunday tradition of buying a blueberry bar.
At this point, I’m pretty sure they would notice if we missed a week.
I love filling my bag with colorful fruits and vegetables and talking with the farmers, ranchers, bakers, and small business owners who created everything around me. There is something special about meeting the people behind your food.
It transforms grocery shopping from another task on the weekend list into an experience filled with stories, relationships, and community.
And then there are the candles.
Can we talk about the new ridiculously expensive candle obsession? Somewhere along the way, candles became status symbols with price tags approaching those of small appliances.
I love discovering locally poured candles made with simpler ingredients and without the heavy synthetic fragrances I try to avoid. But I would also prefer not to take out a small loan to make my living room smell lovely.
Surely there is a happy medium.
My One New Thing Rule
My favorite part of the market isn’t buying the things I already know and love.
It’s finding something new.
I’ve experimented with tempeh, kimchi, more hot sauces than anyone reasonably needs, and all kinds of wonderful cheeses. I especially love trying the different local goat cheese varieties.
A few weeks ago, I bought wasabi microgreens. They lasted nearly two weeks, and I added them to salads, eggs, and simple bowls for a subtle little flavor boost.
Last week’s discovery was a locally made chili oil. I added the tiniest amount to fresh sugar snap peas, and oh my goodness.
It was incredible.
Two simple ingredients became a completely new experience.
That is the beauty of the One New Thing Rule. You don’t need to overhaul your diet, learn an elaborate recipe, or buy an entire cart of unfamiliar ingredients.
Just choose one.
One vegetable you’ve never cooked.
One spice you’ve never used.
One cheese you’ve never tasted.
One sauce that catches your eye.
You may love it. You may decide it isn’t for you. Either way, you’ve added a little curiosity to your week.
Curiosity Is a Wellbeing Practice
We often make wellbeing feel much more complicated than it needs to be.
We create detailed plans, strict rules, ambitious goals, and long lists of things we think we should be doing. Then we feel discouraged when we can’t maintain all of them.
But sometimes wellbeing looks like walking outside on a Sunday morning.
It looks like filling a bag with food that grew nearby.
It looks like talking to someone who created something with their own hands.
It looks like tasting a sugar snap pea with chili oil and discovering something unexpectedly delicious.
Curiosity helps us move away from perfection and toward exploration.
Instead of asking, “What is the healthiest possible choice?” we can ask:
“What looks interesting?”
“What is in season?”
“How could I use this?”
“What haven’t I tried before?”
Curiosity also makes healthy eating more enjoyable. We naturally bring more variety, color, and whole foods into our kitchens when we treat food as something to explore rather than another set of rules to follow.
Your Environment Matters
My Sunday routine also reminds me of something we believe deeply at Nest:
Healthy behavior becomes easier when our environments support it.
I don’t need much willpower to buy fresh produce when I am surrounded by vibrant tomatoes, crisp greens, fragrant herbs, beautiful fruit, and people excited to tell me how everything was grown.
The environment does some of the work for me.
The same principle applies in our workplaces, homes, and communities. When healthier options feel visible, enjoyable, social, and convenient, we are much more likely to choose them.
We don’t always need more information.
Sometimes, we simply need environments that make the healthy choice the easy and appealing choice.
Try the One New Thing Rule
The next time you visit a farmers market, consider bringing home three things:
One familiar favorite.
Something you already know you’ll enjoy.
One new discovery.
Ask a vendor what they recommend or choose the item that makes you curious.
One thing that brings you joy.
Flowers, a handmade candle, a fresh loaf of bread, or a special treat to share with someone you love.
Then ask the farmer, baker, rancher, or maker how they like to use it. You may leave with an ingredient, a recipe idea, and a story.
That is what I love most about my Sunday market ritual.
It nourishes me in more ways than one. It gives me fresh food, gentle movement, time outside, connection with my community, and a reason to keep trying new things.
And occasionally, it gives me a truly life-changing chili oil.